Silent Inspector
The Silent Inspector (SI) is an automated dredge contract monitoring system comprised of both hardware and software developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps). The Corps developed the SI as a low-cost, repeatable, impartial system for automated dredge monitoring.
The hopper, scow and pipeline dredge SI systems integrate various automated systems
to record digital dredging and disposal activities for both government-owned and
contract dredges. Both SI systems collect and record measurements from shipboard
sensors, calculate the dredging activities, and display this information using standard
reports and graphical displays. The SI systems have three major computer components:
the Dredge Specific System (DSS), the Ship Server and the Shore System. These components
and their functions are described as follows:
- Dredging contractors use computer-based systems for positioning and control of their
dredge. These systems comprise the SI DSS. The DSS collects various dredge sensor
data, and formats and displays these data to the dredge crew to provide quality
control of the dredging project.
- The DSS sends data in near real-time to the Ship Server (in a standard format),
which another computer on the dredge loaded with Corps SI software. The Ship Server
then performs tasks that include automated review of data for quality assurance,
data archival, report generation, and graphical displays of data. The Ship Server
system is not used for scow implementations.
- The Shore System provides the same functionality as the Ship Server, but has greater
data storage and data reporting capabilities. Data (which may include daily reports)
are taken from dredges either by wireless data link or magnetic media and are archived
on the Shore System.
The DSS and all shipboard sensors are the property of the contractor, who is required
to maintain them. The contractor purchases the Ship Server computer hardware for
the Corps, and the Corps installs SI software on the Ship Server computer. The Shore
System consists of Corps supplied hardware and software. The Corps SI software on
the Ship Server is similar for both hopper and pipeline SI systems. Both hopper
and pipeline dredge SI systems monitor dredge position and dredge state, and report
and manage these data for Corps dredging contracts. However, each system collects
data and computes measurements specific to each dredging type. Additionally, the
hopper dredge SI system computes Tons Dry Solids (TDS).
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